Tehran, Riyadh have chance to improve ties

There is a chance to change the current cold atmosphere between Tehran and Riadh, Hossein Jaber Ansari, the spokesman with the Iranian foreign ministry said.

If there is a definitive will in Riyadh, the two countries will have opportunity to improve the ties, Jaber Ansari said during his weekly press conference in the foreign ministry in Tehran Dec. 14, Iranian state IRINN TV reported.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new ambassador to Tehran, the Iranian official said, adding the legal procedure is carried on about the issue and the results will be shared with the public.

Iran will continue its principle policy which is based on dialogue with its neighbors, Jaber Ansari said.

He further described the Saudi Arabia as a “major neighbor” of the Islamic Republic.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers hold different views over several regional issues such as the situations in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Iran is a close ally of the Syrian government and has always shown its support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, while Riyadh supports Sunni rebels trying to topple him.

The Saudi Arabian-led coalition started military operation in Yemen last March to oust the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthis, who have taken most of the country and forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia accuses the Islamic Republic of providing military support to the Yemeni Shiite rebels, something that Tehran denies.

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